DENVER – New Mexico State baseball's Austin Botello earned the Western Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week honor on Monday after a strong weekend at the plate in the team's four-game home stand against Mount St. Mary's.
The weekend series saw the senior lead a potent offense that outscored the Mountaineers, 73-10, in a 4-0 series sweep. Botello was 15-of-23 at the plate, hitting for a WAC-best .652 average with a 1.043 slugging percentage and .678 on-base percentage. The Aggie outfielder finished the week with three doubles, two home runs, nine runs scored, 12 RBI and one stolen base.
 
Botello had multiple hits in each game over the weekend, leading the team with 20 over four games. The Galveston, Texas native began the series with two hits in three at-bats in a 13-2 victory for the Aggies on Friday night. Saturday featured a doubleheader for the team, as they won both games to a combined score of 31-7. Over the two contests, Botello had six hits, with one double, one homer and five RBI.
 
The senior's best game came on Sunday afternoon in the weekend finale. Botello posted a career-high six hits in seven at-bats (.857), a feat not accomplished since Kristoffer Koerper on May 11, 2014. The afternoon matchup also saw the Aggie add five RBI with one double and a round tripper.
 
On the season, the outfielder/designated hitter has a .556 batting average with a .638 on-base percentage and a .833 slugging percentage. The impressive numbers include four doubles, two home runs and 15 RBI over nine games.
 
After the weekend, NM State baseball moves to 6-3 on the year. The team's next game will see them travel to Tempe, Ariz. to take on Arizona State on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. MT.